If you're like us and love nothing more than packing a bag and heading outdoors, then this guide is for you.
Whether you're taking to the coastline, countryside or climbs, we want to leave you with a mental post-it note to remember one important thing when packing your gear: skin protection.
Sure, you might remember to grab last year's beaten-up sunscreen bottle from the back of the cupboard and lob it inside your pack before heading out. But we think you can - and should - do better. We want you to be completely skin-safe no matter the weather or terrain.
To make sure your skin doesn't get damaged while you're outdoors doing what you love, we put together these essential skin protection tips for outdoor wanderers like you!
First job: understand your skin
Think of your skin as the first line of defence against outside elements.
The skin's major role is to protect your body from environmental 'stressors', extreme weather and harsh conditions. These environmental stressors attack your skin on a daily basis.
If your skin becomes damaged or compromised, it might not be able to perform it's main job of protecting you. And that could mean things like bacteria or viruses getting inside your body.
Skin damage can be anything on a spectrum from soreness, dryness, redness, cracking, spots, itchiness, wrinkles or sensitivity, all the way to skin cancer (and thousands of other things in between).
Six skin protection tips for time outdoors
So you can enjoy the great outdoors to its fullest and focus on the reasons you're there (and not any painful side-effects), here are six tips on skin safety including why we think they're important.
1. BE VERY UV-AWARE
The gorilla in the room and chief of all aggressors is ultraviolet light.
UV is responsible for 80% of premature skin ageing and 90% of melanoma skin cancers.
Here’s the important bit of science most people don’t realise: UVA in particular reaches your skin every single day and in equal measure throughout the year. It also accounts for 95% of the UV that reaches us on earth. So, as long as it’s light outside, UVA hits your skin – even through cloud and glass.
UVA penetrates the deeper layers of the skin meaning you can’t see the damage. It contributes to premature skin ageing and wrinkling by damaging the natural proteins under the skin’s surface. These proteins keep the skin tight and strong but, when damaged, can’t provide the same structural support.
For a long time, it was thought that UVA couldn’t cause any lasting damage other than these cosmetic changes but studies strongly suggest UVA enhances the development of skin cancers because the rays also cause DNA damage in the skin.
Given UV is ever present, the temperature outside or time of year doesn’t matter. When you're near water, sand or snow, UV hits you twice: once from the sun and again, as it bounces off the sea and back onto you. At altitude, you're 1,000+ metres closer to the sun which sounds obvious because it is. But also the air is thinner and cleaner at altitude so less UV is filtered out. The cumulative effect of this means UV levels increase by 10% for every 1,000 metres above sea level, according to the World Health Organization. In all these environments, your UV exposure is almost doubled.
So, for long periods of time outside – any time of year – use a good sunscreen on all exposed skin before heading outside. We recommend a minimum of SPF 30 and the European ‘UVA’ kite mark (or UVA 4-5*). No sunscreen can stay on your skin all day and protection levels will inevitably diminish. So, try to reapply every two to three hours if you can and don’t forget your lips, nose, back of the neck and ears – commonly missed spots where people often burn.
If you care about your health, this is a really important part of your gear.
2. IS YOUR KIT UPF?
Another way to protect skin is by wearing a physical barrier that blocks attack i.e. clothing.
But beware – not all fabrics are created equal. For example, a white cotton t-shirt is the equivalent of SPF 5 and you could feasibly experience invisible skin damage through it.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is to fabrics what SPF is to sunscreen. It’s a measure of how much UV protection the fabric provides.
Denim is UPF 1,700 so it’s highly protective but isn't the most practical if you're exerting yourself or in a hot environment.
Look out for UPF 50+ active wear. It blocks up to 98% of UV from reaching your skin and is a good option if you don’t like putting creams on your skin or think you might not be in a position to re-apply.
3. DON'T FORGET YOUR HEAD AND LIPS
Your head’s a sitting duck under strong sun. That’s even more true for men who are bald or have a close cut on top.
Consider wearing a hat that's breathable, lightweight and UPF 50+. It’s a whole lot better than a sunburnt head or sun stroke.
And don’t forget your lips even if they don’t normally need any special attention. Lips don’t produce sebum so can quickly become dry. They also burn more easily than other areas of skin. Keep an SPF lip balm within quick reach inside your pack for both UV protection and moisture. Reapply constantly throughout the day.
4. EYES
Protecting your eyes against UV, sunlight and glare is really important for your eye health. As mentioned, UV levels can be high even on a cloudy day and overexposure can lead to painful inflammation, known as 'snow blindness'. It can also increase the likelihood of developing cataracts.
Sunglasses with UV400 protection (or which have the CE kite mark) are a critical piece of kit. Low quality lenses can cause more harm than good as you can read in our blog post devoted to eye protection.
5. NO MORE CHAFE
Chafing occurs when there's repeated friction between skin and clothing (or equipment), leading to irritation, redness, and even blisters.
Repetitive movements for hours on end can cause serious pain and sensitivity.
Continual rubbing of the skin's outer layer (the epidermis) causes microscopic tears and that layer of skin can wear away, leaving the layer beneath it exposed. In the words of our very own Consultant Dermatologist, Professor Christian Aldridge, “chafing or friction dermatitis is principally caused by skin rubbing against skin, clothing or other materials, leading to sore, red inflamed skin which can crack, weep and even bleed if severe." Given the skin's role in protecting your body from the outside world, exposed skin is something you need to try and avoid.
Be sure to apply a good amount of lubricant to areas you know you chafe and avoid pain, discomfort and blisters.
6. END OF DAY RECOVERY
After hours outdoors, try to get into the habit of helping your skin recover. In simple terms, we mean cleanse and moisturise. This can take as little as 30 seconds and it will really help the skin repair itself after a long day outside.
Moisturisers can do two things depending on their ingredients: form a layer to block water leaving or try and add water to the epidermis. Use what you like and apply at the end of the day.
Apply straight after a bath or shower to seal in moisture while your skin is damp. Don’t forget about your hands and body – they definitely won’t say no to a daily layer of added moisture.